“I also saw one perform a healing spell once,” Elfie said.
“A healingspell?” Kaylia asked.
“Yes. She performed a spell to save an arach on the brink of death. It brought her right back.”
“Right back?” Kaylia squeaked in a tone Lexi had never heard from the crone.
“Yes. It was one of the most amazing things I’ve ever seen. I don’t remember the words she used to create the spell, but the child went from being almost dead to awake and talking within minutes.”
“Oh,” Kaylia breathed. “Oh my, Hecate.”
“Can witches do that?” Lexi asked.
“No. Of course, we have potions and poultices, but healing takes time even if our means accelerate it. I never knew anyone could doanythinglike that.”
“So, if I could learn the words, then I might be able to perform the spell too?” Lexi asked.
Her heart hammered with excitement at the possibility. How amazing would it be?
And then her excitement vanished like fog beneath the sun’s rays. How awful would it be if she never unlocked the ability?
“I don’t see why not,” Elfie said. “All of you, please sit down.”
They all looked at each other, but Kaylia was the first to take a seat. Lexi settled into a chair next, followed by Cole; Varo remained standing by the front door. Lexi suspected he was contemplating leaving but wouldn’t walk away from Cole.
Elfie walked over to a wooden shelf carved into the tree; she removed a thick book, strode over to the table, and set the tome down. There had to be at least two feet of yellowed pages inside it.
The ancient, brown book looked like it had been carved from a tree as it had a rough bark cover. A tree was engraved in the center of the cover; green foliage surrounded its thick, sweeping limbs.
When Elfie opened the book, dust rose from the cover. Lexi’s nose twitched as she resisted the urge to sneeze.
“What is this?” Cole asked.
“Some of our histories. Mostly, mine,” Elfie said. “All light fae create journals once they are old enough to write. With our extensive lives, there is much we would forget if we didn’t record it. I’m two thousand three hundred and sixty-two years old. If my mother hadn’t written my birthdate in this book when I was born, I wouldn’t know it. She started it for me, and I took it over when I was ready.”
No wonder it’s so thick and dusty, Lexi thought.
“I don’t write in it every day, but I record the most important things.” Elfie flipped through the pages as she spoke. “How is it you exist, young one?”
Unsure if she should answer, Lexi looked to Cole, who studied Elfie like he was trying to figure her out. Finally, he glanced at Lexi and gave a small nod.
Still, she hesitated before trusting this woman with any of her history. But Elfie was trying to help them, and she couldn’t use Lexi’s history against her or anyone else.
So, she told Elfie about her mother and father, how their love helped incite the war in Dragonia, and how they fled to be with each other. Elfie stopped flipping through the pages to stare at Lexi while she spoke.
When she finished telling her tale, Elfie spoke.
“I knew your mother. I did not know your father, but I can see your resemblance to Galeah. She was very powerful.”
“Was she…?” Lexi swallowed back the bubble of hope nearly choking her. “Was she a good woman?”
“Yes.”
Lexi blinked away the sudden tears in her eyes as she stared at the fire. She didn’t know what else to say, so she concentrated on the flames as the book’s pages rustled.
CHAPTERTHIRTY-TWO
For the next few minutes,no one spoke until Elfie stopped flipping the pages and tapped the book three times. “Here it is. The day I saw the spell performed.”
